Allejo Series 3 | Remember Me, Lachlan

CHAPTER 23

"Are you sure you're going alone?" Lachlan asked for the nth time.

Tumawa ako habang inihahanda ang mga gamit ko.

"Oo nga. And besides, my manager's going to accompany me," I said .

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Who's your manager?"

"Vyu."

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Bago pa siya magsalita ay pinutol ko na siya.

"A girl," I assured him.

"Ihahatid kita sa airport,"aniya at hinawakan ang maleta ko.

"Bahala ka," I rolled my eyes. Nauna akong pumasok sa sasakyan niya.

When I arrived there, I already saw my manager patiently waiting. I smiled when I saw her wearing a dress. First time.

Lumingon ako kay Lachlan. "Go now. You have a meeting to attend."

Ngumuso siya. "Kiss."

Napanganga ako."Dito talaga?" I asked.

"Yeah. Dali na, kiss," he commanded.

Luminga-linga ako sa paligid. Wala naman silang pakealam.

I tiptoed and pressed my lips against his. Napangiti siya matapos ko siyang halikan. Tila nanalo sa loto.

"Don't forget to update me,okay?" he asked.

"Paulit ulit mo na iyang sinasabi. I'm not going to be away for fucking years!" I exclaimed.

He chuckled. "Alright. Just take care, okay? Make sure to come back to me, buong buo."

I smiled and pinched his nose. "Babalik agad ako, okay? Baka mabaliw ka kakahintay sa'kin," I joked but he was serious.

"Mababaliw talaga ako, Satchel.."

I smiled when I heard that our we will now fly after 5 minutes.

"Go now. I'll watch you here before I go," he said and motioned me to go. "I love you."

I gave him one last kiss before we went ."Remember me, Lachlan."

Nang makarating kami sa Ilocos ay nitext ko si Lachlan na nakarating na ako. He replied and reminded me to always take care.

The next day, we were so busy doing vlogs. Kung saan-saan kami pumunta but still, it was enjoyable. We also traveled for the next day.

Sa ikatlong araw ay nakatanggap ako ng tawag mula kay Lachlan. Ngayon lang siya nagkaroon ng time na tumawag. Noong nakaraang araw ay puro lang kami chats.

"I missed you.." pagod ang kaniyang boses. Narinig ko pa nga ang boses niya.

"I missed you too.." I said and chuckled. "Uuwi na kami mamayang hapon," I said.

"Really?" biglang sumigla ang boses niya.

"Oo nga. Kaya hintayin mo'ko. Sunduin mo'ko sa airport ah," I joked but he agreed.

Hays. He can't differentiate which is joke or not.

"Matulog ka na, we're going to take care of some things. I'll text you nalang kapag flight na namin," I said.

Nang hindi ko marinig ang boses niya ay tumawa nalang ako. Marahil nakatulog na sa sobrang pagod.

                                       * * *
Afternoon came. Nasa loob na ako ng airplane. I fished my phone from my pocket and texted Lachlan.

Me: Pauwi na ako.

Wala pang isang minuto ay nakareply na ito.

Lachlan: Good. I'll wait for you.

Napangiti ako at tingnan ang isang maliit na kahon. I bought him a ring.

Hindi ako mag popropose, huwag kayong mag assume.

Sumandal ako sa upuan. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at unti-unti akong dinalaw ng antok.

Nagmulat ako nang mata nang makarinig ng ingay. Nagpapanic ang mga tao. Vyu, who was beside me looked at me worriedly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Dashiel Caremon, we think the landing gear is down but we want to make sure. We are going to do a quick flyby of the air tower for a visual inspection. Please standby for more information. Please stay calm and do not stand up. Heads down! Stay down!"

"Easy victor!" I froze when I heard someone shout that. The pilot was still connected to the microphone.

Shit. I know that phrase.

Easy victor means the plane is going to crash.

"Mayday!Mayday!Mayday!"

Agad kong inilabas ang aking cellphone kahit nanginginig ako. The plane was now shaking!

Please....

I texted my father and sister. I told them that I love them and I'm so thankful to have them in my life.

Sunod naman ay kay Lachlan.

Me: I think the plane is going to crash. always remember that I love you, okay? Live well. Please live well.

I cried harder after I sent that message. The passengers were already panicking. Vyu was silently crying while praying.

I didn't receive a reply from Lachlan so I sent him a recording.

"Love.. the plane, the plane is going to crash. Love, ayoko pang mamatay," I cried harder. Rinig na rinig ko ang sigaw at iyak ng mga tao. Some of them were hugging their loved ones. Lucky for them.

"M-mahal na mahal kita. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'll be leaving you again. P-palagi mong tatandaan na mahal na mahal kita...Kapag wala kang matagpuan na bangkay ko, hayaan mo na, ha? Huwag mong hayaang mawala ka sa sarili dahil sa akin...Please...please live well..just live well..."

Napapikit ako nang maramdaman kong pababa na kami. The plane was extremely shaking.

"P-please love another woman. I'm sorry if I can't come back to you ...I'm sorry....I love you..I love you...Please remember me, Lachlan. "

As I tapped the button, I felt a big impact on my body.

I closed my eyes remembering Lachlan.

Diyos ko, paano kami humantong sa ganito?Wala ba kaming karapatang maging masaya.

Everyone got their happy endings, but what about us?

I had so many what ifs.

What if I choose to stay when Lachlan was convincing me?

What if I just stayed with him that day?

Would everything be different?

I closed my eyes and prayed to the Almighty, hoping He would somehow hear my prayer.

Lord, alam mong sa tanang buhay ko ay wala akong hiniling sa iyo. Hindi ako nagreklamo sa lahat ng nangyari sa buhay ko. Hinayaan kong dumaloy nang ganoon nalang.

Kaya ngayon, sana naman ay pagbigyan mo ang kahilingan ko. Ito ang kauna una han at kahulihuling hiling ko sa iyo.

Please take care of Lachlan. Palayain mo ang puso niya. Hayaan mo siyang maging masaya sa piling ng iba.

Please take care of him. I love him more than my life.

February 27, 2022.

This date signifies the end of everything.

Remember me, Lachlan.